Vacuum cleaner



April 11, 1939. as. LYNGER VACUUM CLEANER Filed 0st. 9, "1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR,

ZYTQRNEY.

April 11, 1939. 5, LYNGER 2,153,580

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 37 fl 37 ENTOR,

Z KQORNEY? Patented Apr. 11, 1939 VACUUM CLEANER Erik Sigfrid Lynger, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor to Electrolnx Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application October 9, 1935, Serial No. 44,143 In Germany October '11, 1934 5 Claims. (01. 183-51) ably secured to one end of casing l and is formed My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly, to vacuum cleaners of the type wherein the dust separating member, such as a dust bag, is contained within a casing.

In cleaners of this type the dust separating member is removable through an opening for the purpose of removing accumulated dirt from the member. This opening must necessarily be closed, and the closure member is usually provided with an inlet opening to which may be secured a cleaning tool, either directly or by means of a flexible hose. In order to assure that all the dust is removed from the air drawn into the cleaner, it is necessary to cause all the air to 16 pass through the dust separating member. In other words, a seal must be effected between the dust separating member and the casing to prevent the passage of air through the casing without passing through the dust separating member.

Likewise, it is necessary to prevent leakage between the casing and the closure member because such leakage would reduce the suction obtainable in the cleaning tool.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide improved structure for effecting a seal between the dust separating member and the casing, while at the same time preventing leakage between the casing and the closure member.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved and simplified means for securing the closure member to the casing.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description given in connection with the accompanying 86 drawings which form a part of this specification and of which:

Fig. 1 is a view, partially in cross-section, of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of a p rtion of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view, partially in cross-section, of a second embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a view, partially in cross-section, of a third embodiment of my invention;

46 Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the device shown in' Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 'l is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of ,my invention; and

Fig. 8 is ayiew, partially in cross-section, of {a sixth embodiment of my invention.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, reference character It! designates a casing, which may preferably be cylindrical. Aring II is suitwith an inwardly extending flange l2 provided with a sealing surface i3. -Ring II is also provided with a second inwardly extending flange M which is interrupted by recesses l5. A dust separating member, such as dust bag I6 made of suitable cloth, or other material pervious with respect to air but impervious with respect to dust is formed with an open mouth secured to a dust bag ring I'I. Ring II includes a cylindrical portion l8 to which the dust bag may be secured by means of glue and string or the like It). The ring also includes a radial flange portion 20, the outer edge of which is enclosed within a grooved sealing'ring 2! made of rubber or other suitable sealing material. The diameter of. sealing ring 2| is greater than the internal diameter of flange l2 but less than the internal diameter of the interrupted flange ll. Consequently, the dust bag and the 'ring I! may be inserted through ring H until the sealing ring 2| contacts the sealing surface I3 on flange l2.

Reference character 25 designates a closure member which is formed with an interrupted flange 26 which is adapted to cooperate with interrupted flange It in the manner of a bayonet joint. That is to say, the projections of flange 26 may be inserted through the recesses iii of flange l4 and then turned through a. slightangle so as to be retained underneath the projections of flange I4. Closure member 25 is provided with a central threaded opening 21 in which is received a threaded sleeve 28. Sleeve 28 is formed with an outer skirt 29, the outer surface of which may be formed with intersecting straight sides, like a nut. The interior of sleeve 28 is formed with screw threads 30 adapted to receive 9. flexible hose leading to the cleaning tool. A bushing 3i is screw-threaded into the inner sleeve 28 and provides a recess between the inner end of the sleeve and the bushing. An annular member 32 has its inner periphery turnably received within this recess. The outer edge of member 32 is adapted to contact sealing ring 2! on dust bag ring I 1. Member 32 may, if desired, be made so as to be resilient, although in this embodiment this is not necessary.

Also contained within casing I0 is a fan 35 driven by a conventional electric motor mounted within the casing. The casing is provided with anair outlet opening 38. Runners 31 serve to support the casing in a substantially horizontal position on a horizontal surface.

The dust bag and closure member are placed in position in the casing in the following manner: The closure member 25 being removed, the dust bag may be inserted through the opening in this end of the casing until the sealing ring 2| abuts the sealing surface l3 on flange l2. The projections on interrupted flange 25 of the closure member are then passed through the recesses |5 formed in interrupted flange l4 and the closure member is turned slightly so that the projections in the two flanges overlap, thus holding the closure member in place. Skirt 29 on sleeve 23 is then turned by hand in the proper direction to advance the sleeve inwardly. This causes member 32, carried by the sleeve, to contact sealing ring 2| and to press the sealing ring tightly against the flange l2. Due to the fact that sealing ring 2| is made ofrubber, a large amount of friction exists between it and member 32. However, because of the turnable connection between this member and sleeve 23, it is not necessary to overcome this friction.

'When fan 35 is rotated, it causes a current of air to be drawn in through sleeve 28 from the cleaning tool attached thereto. Inasmuch as ring 2| is pressed tightly against flange i2, all of this air must pass into the dust bag l5. Likewise, member 32 effects a seal between the dust bag ring and sleeve 23, whereby there is no tendency for air to leak into the casing at the joint between the casing and the closure member 25. Consequently, there is no necessity for making this joint airtight. The air drawn into the dust bag passes through the material thereof, while entrained dust is retained within the bag. The air, free of dust, is discharged by the fan through the outlet of the member 35.

It will be seen that the force exerted by member 32 against sealing ring 2| is equally distributed around the circumference of the ring, par- .ticularly if member 32 is made of resilient material. Consequently, the sealing surface l3 of flange l2 does not have to be accurately made inasmuch as any inaccuracies will be taken care of by this equalization of force. Moreover, it is notnecessary to provide any means on the outside oi. the casing for securing the closurev member in place, thus eliminating projections which might catch on and damage furniture or other objects. The force exerted by member 32 against ring 2| reacts through closure member 25 to ring I I, thus holding the overlapping projections on member 25 and flange H in frictional contact. This prevents accidental turning of the closure member, which might result in its release from the casing.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, with the exception that member 32 is secured directly to closure member 25 instead of to-a sleeve having threaded engagement with the closure member. In this case, member 32 is constructed so as to be resilient. inasmuch as no means is provided for tightening this member against the sealing ring. Also, in this embodiment, a somewhat different type of bayonet coupling for securingthe closure member to the casing is employed.

The inner surface of ring II is provided with projections 40 which are adapted to be received within T-shaped slots 4| formed in closure member 25. The ends of the arms of the slots are formed with recesses 42 to prevent accidental turning of the closure member when in place.

In this embodiment, when the closure member is put in place, resilient member 32 bears against sealing ring 2| with an evenly distributed force I resulting from the deformation of member 32,

thus preventing the passage of air between the sealing ring and the casing. As in the first embodiment, member 32 prevents the leakage of any air between the casing and the closure member.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the closure member 25 is securable to the ring ll of casing III in the same manner as described in connection with Fig. 3, that is to say, projections 40 extend inwardly from ring II and are adapted to engage the T-shaped slot 4|. The inner face of closure member 25 is provided with an annular groove 50 adjacent to the outer peripheral edge of the closure member and facing the sealing surface l3 on flange l2 when the closure member is in position. An annular ring 5| is slidably mounted within groove 50 and is T-shaped in cross-section. The branches 52 of the T contact the sides of the groove 5|! and the flt therebetween is as close as possible without interfering with sliding movement. The stem 53 of the T is adapted to project out of the groove 50 and to contact the sealing ring 2|. Resilient means, such as a spring 54, is provided between the bottom of the groove and the annular ring 5| and serves to urge the ring outwardly.

When the closure member is secured to the casing by means of bayonet connection 4|], 4|, the stem 53 of annular ring 5| contacts sealing ring 2| on the dust bag ring l1 and spring 54 causes annular ring 5| to press the sealing ring against the sealing surface l3 on flange l2. Con- 'sequently, leakage of air between the sealing ring and the, flange is prevented. Also, because of the close flt between annular ring 5| and the sides of the groove, air may not pass from between the casing and the closure member to within the dust bag.-

Inthe embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the closure member 25 is securable to ring H in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. Closure member 25 is provided with a central opening I within which is slidably received the cylindrical portion II of a sealing member designated generally by the reference character I2. Integral with cylindrical portion II, or suitably secured thereto, is a threaded portion 13 which is adapted to receive an air hose or other suction cleaning implement. Sealing member I2 also includes an annular portion 14, the outer edge. of which is adapted to engage the sealing ring 2| of the dust bag l5. A coil spring 15 is arranged between'closure member 25 and sealing member I2 and tends-to force the latter inwardly.

When closure member 25 is secured in place, sealing member I2 contacts sealing ring 2| and presses the latter against the sealing surface |3 formed on flange I2. This force results from the stressing of spring I5. In this embodiment, due to the pressure of spring 15, it is not necessary that sealing member 12 be resilient, although it may be if desired.

The embodiment shown in Fig. '7 difiers from that shown in Fig. 6 chiefly in that spring I is omitted. Consequently, it is necessary to construct sealing member I2 in a resilient manner so that it may be deformed slightly when the cover member is in place in order to provide the force necessary to press ring 2| into sealing contact with surface III. In the devices shown in both Figs. 6 and 7, cylindrical portion II is 1'0- tatably mounted in cover member 25 so that the cover member may be turned slightly, for the purpose of engaging the bayonet joint, without turning the sealing member I2, thusf-making it unnecessary to overcome the friction between the a sealing member and the rubber sealing ring 2|.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, an annular ring 80 of flexible rubber or the like is secured to a cylindrical flange 8! formed on closure member 25. In order to allow turning between the ring 80 and the closure member, thus preventing torsional stress in the ring, an annular liner B2 01' metallic material may be interposed between ring 80 and flange 8|. The friction between ring 80 and liner 82 is high, due to the nature of the material of ring 80, but the friction between liner 82 and flange 8| is low, thus permitting easy turning. In order to obtain a tight seal between rings 80 and 2|, the former is preferably dished, as shown in Fig, 8, in order that the pressure difference existing inside and outside of ring 80 may aid in forcing ring 8| in contact with ring 2|.

When closure member is secured in place, the deformation of ring 80 creates a force which presses ring 2| against sealing surface l3 on flange It, thus preventing the leakage of air therebetween. As above pointed out, when the tan is started, the pressurediflerence thereby created increases the force exerted byring 80 against ring 2|, thereby increasing the sealing effect. Ring 80 likewise prevents leakage of air an opening, means forming a seat adjacent to said opening, arms. a dust separating member secured to said ring, an 'openable cover member securable to said casing for substantially closing said opening, said dust separating member being insertable through said opening when said cover member is open, an air impervious sealing member provided with an air inlet and carried by said cover member and adapted to engage said ring and clamp the same in airtight relation between said sealing member and said seat when said cover is closed, said sealing member preventing flow of air from between said cover member and said casing to said dust separating member.

2. ma. vacuum cleaner, a casing formed with an opening and an internal flange adjacent to said opening, a ring, a dust separating member secured to said ring, a cover member formed with an aperture, means for movably securing said cover member to said casing-Ior-closingsaid opening, and an annular air impervious sealing member carried by said cover circumferentially of said aperture and adapted to resiliently engage said sealing ring and clamp the same in. air-tight relation between said sealing member and said flange, said sealing member preventing flow of air from between said cover member andsaid casing to said dust separating member.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing formed with an opening and an internal flange adjacent to said opening, a sealing ring, a dust separating member secured to said ring, a cover member formed with a threaded aperture, means for removably securing said cover member to said casing for closing said opening, a threaded sleeve turnable within said aperture and adapted to engage a suction-cleaning device, an annular air impervious sealing member carried by said sleeve in air-tight relation thereto and adapted by turning of said sleeve to engage said sealing ring and clamp the same in air-tight relation between said sealing member and said flange, said sealing member preventing flow of air from between said cover member and said casing to said dust separating member. v

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing formed with an opening and an internal flange adjacent to said opening, a sealing ring, a dust separating member secured to said ring, a cover member,

- formed with an aperture, means for removably securing said cover member to said casing for closing said opening, an annular air impervious sealing member carried by said cover circumferentially of .said aperture, and means for resiliently urging said sealing member against said sealing ring to clamp the latter in air-tight relation against said flange, said sealing member preventing flow of air from between said cover member and said casing to said dust separating member.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing formed with an opening and aninternal flange adjacent to said opening, a sealing ring, a dust separating member secured to said ring, a cover member formed with an aperture, means for removably securing said cover member to said casing for closing said opening, and an annular air-impervious sealing member constructed of resilient material carried by said cover circumferentially of said aperture and adapted to engage said sealing ringand clamp the same in air-tight relation between said sealing member and said flange, said sealing member preventing flow of air from between said cover member and said casing to said dust separating member.

SIGFRID LYNGER. 

